Kids
Nickelodeon Arabia to step foot in Middle East from 23 July
MUMBAI: Nickelodeon Arabia, Middle East‘s first Arabic free-to-air channel dedicated to kids aged 2-14 years, is set to launch on Nilesat and Arabsat on 23 July.
Nickelodeon Arabia falls under the umbrella of Arabian Television Network (ATN), the Arab Media Group‘s TV broadcasting arm.
The channel, which will hit airwaves at 6 am with animated series Rugrats, will showcase a mixture of programming that include international content from Nickelodeon‘s portfolio. The portfolio includes programmes like Dora The Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Jimmy Neutron and the Nickelodeon Kids‘ Choice Awards.
Additionally, Nickelodeon Arabia will also air original local productions.
The channel will be supported by a website (both Arabic and English), providing users with Nickelodeon content, characters and games.“We‘re confident Nickelodeon Arabia will become the go-to destination for Arab kids both on and off air. Our local productions will form a key part of the Nickelodeon channel to ensure a wholly relevant, world-standard entertainment experience for audiences across the Middle East,” said Arab Media Group CEO Abdullatif Al Sayegh.
Kids
Mukta Arts and Green Gold ink MOU to animate iconic film IPs
Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan to spawn animated shows plus features.
MUMBAI: When classic hindi movie meets animation, the result is a fresh reel of nostalgia with a cartoon twist. Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on animated shows and feature films drawn from Mukta Arts’ four-decade treasure trove of iconic IPs. The partnership taps Mukta’s SGM Animation Studio launched in 2025 as its dedicated animation and games arm and Green Gold’s proven track record in building scalable, homegrown franchises. Creative teams from both sides have already kicked off discussions, with the first project currently in development.
The slate will draw inspiration from landmark Mukta films including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar and Iqbal, plus character-led spin-offs from those universes. The aim is to reimagine these stories for today’s young, global audiences while preserving their emotional core.
Green Gold Animation (home of Chhota Bheem) founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”
Mukta Arts Ltd. filmmaker and founder Subhash Ghai added, “Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”
In an industry where timeless tales never go out of fashion, this collaboration promises to bring beloved characters back to life with a modern, animated glow proving that some stories are too good to stay in live-action. Stay tuned for the first animated frame to drop.
